The quake`s epicentre was 162 km below the seafloor off the island of Izu Oshima, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The agency added that the quake was unlikely to trigger any tsunami.

On a day when people were set for a national holiday, the quake woke the people out of sleep in Tokyo and shook buildings, sending people running for cover.

According to local media, no major damage was reported but the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said that at least16 people were injured.

Those injured included a sexagenarian woman who got a fractured bone in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. Four others were injured in Yokohama hit by falling objects and eight were injured in Tokyo. The quake injured one in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, and a total of two in Ichikawa and Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture, reported the Japan Times.

The earthquake is said to be of the strongest seismic intensity level since the disastrous earthquake of 2011.

Monday`s quake doesn`t seem to be connected to an expected major quake as today`s quake occurred in the Pacific plate, a top official at Japan`s Meteorological Agency was quoted as saying at a news conference.